Chapter 10

(105) What does the progression of 'dot' to 'boy' tell us about the role of exploring and meeting the people in the camp? What does this represent about how other Germans view the Jews?
The use of the progression from "dot" to "boy" symbolises the change in views that Bruno is currently experiencing discovering empathy for other characters shown in the book previously with Maria. This progressions alludes to the realisation that Bruno will experience when discovering Shmuel.
(109) What effect does the boys both having the same birthday have?
The effect that both boys sharing the same birthday highlights how both boys are similar and fully exposes the unjustified hate the Nazis have against the Jews. This juxtaposition of both boys highlights the similarities that both boys have and how the Nazis have no justification for imprisoning the Jews when Bruno and Shmuel and relatively the same except for their religion.
(113-4) What do Bruno and Shmuel 'argue' about? What does Bruno decided to stop the argument?
Both boys argue about whether Berlin or Poland is a better area to live in, Bruno decides to stop the argument by changing the subject to whether or not Shmuel likes exploring because he may fear losing Shmuel as a friend.
(115) What does Bruno's last question reveal to Shmuel? What do you think Shmuel thinks of Bruno because of asking this question?
The last question Bruno asks is "why are there so many people on that side of the fence? ... and what are you all doing there?" these questions Bruno asks brings the reader back to reality of what hardships Shmuel is currently experiencing. This question also highlights Bruno's continued innocence even when he is facing the true atrocities face to face. Shmuel may think of Bruno of being a bit idiotic for asking a question like why the Jews were on that side of the fence because Shmuel's innocence may shroud the fact that Bruno is also a German and that he is related to his suffering. 

Chapter 9: Bruno Remembers That He Used to Enjoy Exploration

(pg95-96) How is Lt Kotler portrayed? Why is he portrayed this way? (remember that how' is asking about literary techniques)
Lt Kotler is portrayed as being stereotypical soldier this is shown when Bruno describes him having "black boots" the alliteration in the quote highlights his order and discipline in maintaining his boots to such a standard. 
What is Herr Liszt going to 'change' for Bruno? (98)
Herr Liszt is put into place by his father to place the Bruno and Gretel back into their studies to fill their mornings and afternoons with lessons Bruno describes it when "Herr Liszt rattled up the driveway on his bone shaker and it was time for school again" the use of description highlights Bruno's dislike of the idea of school.
(100) What connection does Bruno make between the people in the camp and the people that come and visit his house all the time?
Bruno compares the soldiers to the Jews inside the concentration camp asking "what exactly was the difference? Which people wore the striped pyjamas and which people wore the uniforms?". Bruno discovers the balance of power between the Nazis and the Jews "the pyjama people all jumped to attention whenever the soldiers approached and sometimes they fell to the ground". This connection that Bruno creates juxtaposes the two groups and discusses why one side had the power and one didn't when they were both similar.
What some of the things that Bruno begins to take notice of regarding the relationship   between the soldiers and the people in 'pyjamas'?
Bruno begins to take notice of the differing balances of power between the Nazis and the Jews he describes their interactions "the pyjama people all jumped to attention whenever the soldiers approached and sometimes they fell to the ground" this quote shows Bruno's understanding of why the Jews who are powerless.

Theme, Motif + Technique

Historical themes/ human idea
Theme
i.e. Innocence
Motif used to highlight theme
Motif
i.e. Juxtaposition
Repeated use of technique
Technique
i.e. simile

Chapter 6

• On pg 60 Bruno reveals a radical shift in his perspective and understanding of Maria. What is this radical shift? What does this show is developing in Bruno?

Bruno shows the radical shift in his perspective and understanding of Maria by seeing her as being a person compared to his previous thoughts of her just being 'the maid'. This change in understanding about Maria's life may represent how Bruno is starting to mature and how his becoming more compassionate to all people alluding to how he sees the Jews.

• Compare how Bruno and Gretel treat Maria.

• Bruno after learning discovering about Maria's life and why she had become the maid for the family starts to treat her with compassion. Juxtaposed to how Gretel treats Maria as an object to make life easier for her this highlights Bruno's new understanding about her.

• (pg 65) What is Maria's advice to Bruno about 'keeping safe'? Why do you think that she gives this advice? Do you think that it is good or bad advice?

• Maria's advice to Bruno in 'keeping safe' is that to listen to his father and keep his own mouth shut this advice shows the fear that Maria possesses because she has more knowledge than Bruno about their current situation. This could be considered good advice as she is genuinely concerned about Bruno's well being.

• (65-6) What is Bruno's reaction to his new thoughts/feelings? Why do you think that he reacts this way?

• Bruno's reaction to his new thoughts about Maria and how he used to treat her when he sees Gretel treat her the way he used to is to listen to all people and to know them. This alludes to his understanding of the Jews torments and how the Germans could not understand them as people.

Chapter 7

How is the mother's defence of Herr Roller entirely ironic?
The fact that mother defends Herr Roller as being a wonderful human being before he suffered his conditions is ironic to her ignorance of herself and the Nazis of how the Jews were human beings before Hitler decided to place the blame upon them.
What role does Kotler represent historically in the novel? (think beyond being a soldier)
Kotler might represent the German army as he is described as being in top physical condition and how he used to have his uniform well orientated and organised. This is shown by how he is described by Bruno and the juxtaposition demonstrated when he is currently described as being hot and messy.
What character is Kotler juxtaposed with in this chapter? What effect does it have on understanding each of these characters?
Kotler is juxtaposed to Pavel, as in one being a German officer and one being a Jew. This juxtaposition highlights the way the Nazis treated the Jews and their thoughts and perceptions about their people.
How would you compare the interaction Bruno has with Pavel to all the other interactions Bruno has had with adults?
The interaction between Bruno and Pavel compared to the interactions between Kotler and Pavel are drastically different. Bruno treats Pavel like he treated Maria after hearing about her life and treats him like another person juxtaposed to how Kotler treats him.
Why is juxtaposition a key technique employed in Holocaust texts? How has it been used in The Boy in the Striped PJ's?
Juxtaposition is a key technique  employed in most Holocaust texts due to the need to highlight the class differences of the Jews compared to the Nazis. Juxtaposition is used to highlight key differences and highlight them, juxtaposition can be used to show the balance of power and is often used in Holocaust texts to demonstrate the differences of the Jews and the Nazis. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is no different as it has several instances of juxtaposition to highlight the differences of Bruno to Gretel, Kotler to Pavel, Father to Mother and many other different situations.

Holocaust Poetry #2

Homeland
Lois E. Olena

It was Christmas eve
and there was no room in the inn,
the Oswiecim inn,
so the Arrow Cross
took the children,
barefooted
and in their nighties,
out to the Danube
and filled their little bellies
not with bread
but bullets
flipping them
like tiddlywinks
into the congealing, icy river below.

It was the Red Danube
that night,
choking on the blood
of orphan Jews
whose little Blue faces
floated downstream
touring even all of Europe
until they washed up
on the shores of Eretz Yisrael (Jewish homeland)
and came back to life,
their little blue and white
bodies
raised high,
flapping in the wind.


How is imagery used in this poem?

Imagery is used in this poem of the common Christmas story of the birth of Jesus and thus changing key parts of this common story. The imagery of the "filling their little belies not with bread but with bullets" creates a strong emotional imagery of children being shot down in cold blood.

Discuss the effect of the simile in this poem.
The simile "flipping them like tiddlywinks into the congealing, icy river below" highlights the fact that the people being murdered were children by comparing the dumping of the bodies to playing tiddlywinks. This simile highlights the German ruthlessness.

How is alliteration used in the poem? What is the effect?
Alliteration is used in this poem in "filled their little bellies not with bread but with bullets" the short sharp 'b' sounds in "bellies ... bread ... bullets" highlights the pain and suddenness of their death.

How does the author juxtapose the innocence of the children to the cruelty they experienced?
The author juxtaposes the innocence of the children to the cruelty they are experience by using childish words such as "bellies ... tiddlywinks" these words highlight their childish innocence.

What is meant by 'touring all of Europe'?The "touring all of Europe" relates to the wars all over Europe and the consequent concentration camps built within Europe. The quote relates to a well known fact that Nazis built concentration camps in numerous areas in Germany.

Boy in the Striped PJ's Chapter 4

(pg 31) How does the author continue to use juxtaposition in regards to the two housing situations? (the Jews and Bruno's family)
The juxtaposition shown from Bruno's family and the Jews in the concentration camp is seen in the description Bruno's house with the "flowers which grew in neat orderly sections in soil that looked as if it was tended very carefully" compared to "a huge wire fence that ran along the length of the house and turned in at the top". These quotes show the drastic differences in the two different lifestyles.
What is it about the children that makes it difficult to understand exactly what they see through the window and just how bad it is?

Both Bruno and Gretel do not see the pain the Jews are experienced because they do not have a full understanding over the recent political events that Germany is facing currently and due to their age they possess some innocence from the atrocities.

Summarise how Gretel describes what she sees.
Gretel describes the concentration camp as being enclosed by a large chain link barbed wire fence with "no greenery anywhere".

What does Gretel attempt to do when she sees the Concentration Camp? How does she attempt to understand what she sees?
Gretel does not see the true reasons of why there were people in the 'camp' and why there were no girls in the camp. She accepts the explanation offered by Bruno for the girls being on another part of the camp. Gretel attempts to understand what she sees by making vague explanations about the situation.

Is her attempt successful? Does she convince Bruno that she understands? What does she eventually give in to? What does she say/or not say? (pg 32)
Gretel's attempt to make an explanation of why this 'camp' was looking so "nasty" is that it must be in the country side. Her attempt is successful in convincing Bruno but she still has some doubts about why they are there. She does not say why the people are living  in such conditions.

What can't the children do when they see the Concentration Camp that the adults seem to be able to do? Which group can understand what they see? Why do you think that this is the case?
How does the author use understatement through the children's description of the Concentration Camp?

The children can't understand why the people are living in such conditions and why the people are behind this large barbed wire fence. The children do not consider this because they possess an element of innocence do not see the atrocities taking place in the 'camp'